IDEAL HUSBANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 3

IDEAL HUSBANDS

IN THE WILDS. EXPLORER ON ANIMALS 1 MARRIAGE CONTRACTS. “Among many of my wild animal friends, I have found the beginnings of civilisation. They have the germ of 'practioally every custom that we have m a near developed phase.’’ Mr Ernest Thompson Seton, who has just returned to England after more than ten years spent almost exclusively in North America, studying the lives of various animals, made this interesting statement to an “Evening News” representative. THE KINDLY WOLF. “The higher-class animals,” he said, “have property ideas, marriage ideas, social amusements, methods of communication. “The wolf, fox, and coyote, despite popular belief, are monogamous. The male remains with the female, helps to raise the young, is fond of them, is considerate to the family, and hunts for the female when she is inoapable of hunting. “The wolf is kind and heroic, shows chivalry ; and is, in short, a noble animal.” Discussing the social amusements of animals, Mr Seton said: “Gamekeepe-s in England know that badgers often ! gather in certain places, but I think I I have established that they choose those j places because of the 'sports appara-: tus,’ if I may term it, which is found there. I “Give them a little mound or a ] ready cut log, and they will play ‘king and the castle’ with the delight cf children. DEMOCRATIC GAMES. “All the higher class animals enjoy these games—irrespective of sex or type. “I have seen a fox and rabbit gambolling together as though they were life-long friends, and a badger and a coyote began a friendship which developed night by night till it ended ay their living together. “As for wolves, I have many times known the male refuse to leave his mate and her little ones, even though he knew that a refusal to do so meant certain death for him.”